Nagpur: A ‘Local Metro Rail’ chugging from Nagpur to Butibori, Ramtek, Wardha, Kamptee, Kanhan, Kalmeshwar, Katol, Bhandara and other nearby towns on the lines of Majhi Metro of Nagpur could soon be reality. Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL) would use existing railway tracks to run ‘Local Metro Rail’ up to these towns. Presently, Railway is operating passenger trains on these routes to facilitate commuters travelling daily to and fro Nagpur.
Union Minister for Road, Transport and Shipping Nitin Gadkari directed Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director of NMRCL to submit the proposal in this regard to Railways for its nod. Dixit had earlier served as Divisional Railway Manager of Central Railway in Nagpur. The directive of Gadkari has been welcomed by Dr Pravin Dabli, a former member of ZRUCC. The proposal to run ‘Local Metro Rail’ from Nagpur to nearby towns was submitted by ZRUCC way back in 2012. Since then, Dr Dabli was raising the issue at various forums. In 2014, when BJP came to power at Centre, Dr Dabli submitted the proposal to Gadkari afresh. The proposal demanded running of ‘Local Metro Rail’ from Nagpur to Butibori, Ramtek, Wardha, Kamptee, Kanhan, Kalmeshwar, Katol, Bhandara, Gondia and other towns on the lines of Nagpur Metro. The run of such Local Metro Rail could facilitate up-down passengers immensely. Earlier also in 2013, the proposal was submitted to the then Minister of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Choudhary when he visited Nagpur. The then Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar has accorded in-principle approval to the proposal.
Currently, Railway is operating passenger trains from Nagpur to Wardha, Saoner, Ramtek, Kalmeshwar, Bhandara and other nearby places. The Metro Rail has studied these operations and it was found that these trains were not catering to the actual requirements of the local passengers. The trains are consuming more time to reach destination. The Mail and Express trains are forced to halt at these stops to carry passengers which affect their overall efficiency. Nagpur Metro has proposed to run ‘Local Metro Rail’ of three coaches at the speed of 120 kms per hour between these stations to provide facilities to the passengers. This will reduce the travelling time between these stations. The railway tracks are fit for the operation of ‘Local Metro Rail’.
The Metro Rail will purchase four trains of three coaches each to run between these stations. The trains will run at peak hours during morning and evening hours. According the Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, these stations will be developed as satellite towns in future and also save the loss of operation of trains of Railways. The railways will have to stop their present operation of local trains. Government is planning to promote public transport so that the congestion on roads should be reduced. The timings of passengers and goods trains on this route so that the operation of ‘Local Metro Rail’ could be accommodated. The permission of Railway Board will be necessary for the operation.
